Retaining device



Feb. 7, 1933. Q5 PECKHAM 1,896,681

RETAINING DEVICE Filed Jan. 28, 1931 WWM Patented Feb. 7, 193 3 Q UNITE-D srara CHARLES E. PECKI-IAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS R TAI ING DEVICE Application filed January 28, 1931. Serial No.'511,672.

This invention relatesto retaining devices and more particularlyto devices that may be used to hold articles of wearing apparel in proper position.

The salient objects of my invention are to provide a retaining device which may be used to hold an article such as a shirt in proper position to enhance the appearance thereof by preventing unwarranted wrinkling and the like; which will be comfortable so that it may be worn with case; which will be adjustable inorder that it may be neatly fitted on the body; and which will be detachable to facilitate installation and removal thereof.

In the selected embodiment of my invention, illustrated in the accompanying draw- Fig. 1 is a front view showing my device 20. installed in position;

Fig. 2 is a side view;

Fig. 3 is a rear view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 on Fig. 1; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective detail views of the parts of my device. 7

Referring to the drawing, 7 indicates a shirt including front tail portions 8 and 9,

separated from each other at the front of the shirt in the usual manner, and a rear tail portion 10 separated from the tail portions 8 and 9 by notches or gashes 11 and 12 formed in the material of the shirt. The front portions of the shirtare joined in the usual manner as by buttons 13 and after the shirt has been put on my improved device is attached, and the purpose of this device is to hold the shirt somewhat taut about the shoulders and in the front and rear portions thereof to therebv prevent unwarranted wrinkling thereof. In order that this may be attained my device is preferably made of elastic material and it consists of two parts respectively indicated by 14 and 15. The part 14 is preferably 4 made of greater length than the part 15 and atthe ends thereof pliable buttons 16 or the like are provided. These pliable buttons 16 are secured to rigid base sections-17 which may be made of metal, and these sections have slots 18 and 19 thereinon each side of the buttons 16. The end portion of the strip 14 is extended through the slot 18 and across the section 17 on the side thereof opposite the button 16 and then through the slot 19, after which the end portion of the strip 14 is looped about the endof the section 17 so that it may be directed the-reover, and the marginal portion of this end portion is folded upon itself and joined to the section of the portion 14 adjacent the opposite end of the section 17 by stitching 20 or the like. The part 15 has a loop 21 fixed at one end thereof and the opposite end of the part 15 is folded upon itself and is connected to the usual slide retainer 22 mounted upon the section 15 and by moving 651- this slide retainer 22 along the section the length of the looped portion formed therein may be varied to thus vary the length of the part 15 to thereby provide an adjustment.

In the bight of the looped portion a'loop 23 is mounted and therefore loops are provided at opposite ends of the part 15. To install my improved device in position one end of the part 14 is extended below the tail section 10 adjacent either of the notches 11 or 12 and thus the buttons 16 will be covered by the cloth of the shirt. Then one of the loops, for example the loop 23, will be arranged in position to clamp the material of the shirt between itself and the button 16 and therethe other button 16. The preferred. manner i of carrying out this last connection is that the wearer of the shirt will stand upright and will pass the part let about the thigh, in the manner described, and under one of the front tail portions. He will then stand upright and draw the shirt taut, after which he will grip the part 1% and the tail portion of the shirt to retain the button 16 in the proper location and then the loop 21 will be clamped in the manner described. Since the parts are made of elastic material it is manifest that they will effectively retain the shirt substantially taut and therefore prevent unwarranted wrinkling thereof to thereby enhance the appearance. Since an adjustment is provided in the part 15 it is manifest that the retaining device may be adjusted to suit the needs of the particular person using the same, and while I have shown the adjustment as being provided in the part 15 it is to be understood that it might be provided in the part 16 without departing from the purview of my invention. However, it is advantageous to pro vide an adjustment in the part 15 and I am thereby enabled to provide a covering over the back of the base section 17 to thereby prevent its contacting with the body of the wearer. hen it is desired to remove the shirt, the loops engaging the front tail portions 8 and 9 are disengaged and therefore the shirt may be readily removed.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred form of construction of my invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the following claim.

I claim:

In a garment which has shoulder and trunk portions and front and rear tail portions at the lower end of the trunk portion with adjacent edges of the front and rear tail portions spaced from each other, the combination therewith of a pair of elastic strips having connecting devices at corresponding ends thereof, said connecting devices being disposed adjacent the edges of the rear tail portions that are spaced from the front tail portions, said strips being extended over said front tail portions and having other connecting devices at the other ends thereof, another pair of elastic strips having connecting devices at corresponding ends thereof, said lastnamed connecting devices being adapted to respectively cooperate with the first-named connecting devices to attach the rear tail portions to said connecting devices and to attach the connecting devices together, said secondnamed elastic strips being extended over the inner sides of the thighs of the wearer of the garment and toward said other ends of the first-named strips and having connecting devices at the ends thereof opposite the ends thereof.

CHARLES E. PECKHAM. 

